Rail anchor



Patented July l0, 1923. l` v A' UNITED STATES PATENTy oPFicE.

ROLANDIS A. BLAIR, OF FORTWAYN E, INDIANA, ASSIGNO. T THE P & 1Mv COIMYPANY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAIL ANCHOR.-

y originel epplieetien me@ september s, 1920, serierm. 408,799." nivli'aea apainieapplie'auon-iuea Maren 17, 1922. serial No. 544,493. Y i Y To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, ROLANDIS A. BLAIR, a citizen of the v United States, residing at Fort Waynein the,v countyv of Allen and State. of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Anchors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices known as rail anchors or anti-Creepers, to prevent the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, and for its primary object to provide an "1mproved device of this character which'will be light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, possesses suicient rigidity to with..v

stand the stresses to which devices'of this character? are subjected when in service, which will take .a tirm hold on the rail, and which will be suliiciently resilient to prevent its hold on the rail beingloosened bv vibration or other causes having that tend- Iii is well, known that railroad rails, even vwhen made in conformity with the same standard, often vary in width and thickness of their `base anges. This imperfection may be due to the wearing away of the bearing surfaces of the rolls employed in' manufacturing the rails, or it may be due to the corrosion of the rails after they have been in service for some time. Such conditions as these `present certain disadvantages in connection with one-piece devices, as ordinarily these devices are not well adapted to be used on rails which vary in the width and thickness of their base anges.

It is one of the specific objects of my invention-to provide anew and improved rail anchor, preferably a one-piece device,

base 4ianges of which may vary in1width or thickness. A further specific object is to` provide a rail anchor which will check or counteract the various tendencies, `such vas vibration, counter-creeping, and the like, which operate to cause rail anchors to work loose on the rail. In this connection my.

invention contemplates the provision of a V rail anchor made preferably'of spring metal which .is stressed transversely of the rail base When'in its applied position and having the jaw portions so'disposed with relation to va portion of the device ,adapted to bear against a tie yor'othler lstationary part of the road-bed that any longitudinal move*- ment of the rail toward the tie or otheir'abut'- ment will further tension the anchor and of the rail base.

A further object is to provide a rai-l Ianchor of novel construction which will beeffectlve against movementsefor creeping of the rail in either direction.

A further object is to provide a device which may be' conveniently and quickly ape p lieg to or removed from'arail, when desire thereby increase its grip on opposite-edges My invention consists in thenew and im,

v1ce applied thereto in its operative position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown 1n Fig. l with the addition of a cross tie vproviding' an vabut-ment for the anchor device. 'l'

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of thefanchor devicev before the same is applied'to a rail, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the anchor illustrating the manner in which it is applied to a rail.

Like characters of reference designatel like parts in the several figures of the drawln v eferring to the drawing 10 designates a.v g

railroadfrail and 11 oneof the cross ties onl .which the rail is supported. A

preferably consistsv of a The rail anchor singlev piece of metal out and bent tothev form 'shown in Fig. 3. vI preferably use a. flat piece ofspring metal.v The device'is formed so as to yprovide hook or jaw portions 12-l2'at one endadapted to :engage with one of' the base lianges of the rail;

moy-

The other end of the device'is provided with hook or jaw portions 13 and 14 which are adapted to engage with the other edge of the rail base. The web portions 15 and 16 of the anchor intervening between the jaws 12-12 and the aws 13 and 14, respectively, are narrower than the ends of the anchor so that they will extend under the base of the rail. In order to prevent any rocking movement of the anchor on the rail I preferably provide t-he two jaws 12, one on each side, although it will be obvious from the following description that the anchor will take a very reliable hold on the rail if only one such jaw is provided. The free end of the web portion 16 is formed with an extension 17 to provide a locking tongue adapted to bear against the side of the jaw portion 13. The web portions 15 and 16 of the anchor are curved so that the vdistance between the jaws 12 and 13 and f 12 and 14, when the anchor is free of the rail, is normally7 less than the transverse 2K5-,distance across the rail base, thereby making it necessary to stress the curved webs of the anchor in applying the device to a rail. The free ends of the web portions 15 and 16 are spread apart and the tongue 17 is'bent around into engagement with the 'aw portion 13, preferably. before the anchor 1s applied to therail. The jaws 12-12 are formed with beveled surfaces to facilitate the application of the anchor to the rail v.and the tongues 17 and jaw portion 13 are preferably, though not necessarily, formed with beveled surfaces V19 and 20, respectively, to facilitate entry of the tongue into engagement with the jaw portion 13.

' The anchor is applied to the rail as follows: it is placed under the rail with the jaws 13 and 14 engaging the edge of one of the base flanges of the rail as'indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. A tra-ck bar 21 is inserted between the inner surface of the jaw end 12 of the anchor and the edge of the adjacent base flange and is manipulated to elongate the anchor suticiently to permit the beveled 'surfaces 18-18 of the jaws 12-12 to ride over and to snap into engagement with the'edge of the rail base, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. This operation eliminates substantially all curvature from the web portions 15 and 16 and ordinarily the jaws of the anchor will( have a tight binding grip on the rail base. The locking tongue 17 is adjustable and if there should be any looseness in the engagement of the anchor with the rail base after being applied as aforesaid or if any such looseness should develop, as by corrosion, it may be eliminated by bending the tongue inwardly toward the rail thereby forcing the jaws 13 and 14 further apart and augmenting the hold or grip of the jaws on the rail base,

the vertical edges on opposite sides of the rail base; consequently the. jaws need not necessarily grip both top and bottom surfaces of the rail base and therefore may be made slightly loose fitting in this respect, thereby accommodating rail bases of different thickness or having upper surfaces of different slope.

The anchor, as above described, will hold the rail against creeping forwardly, that is t-o say 1n a direction from the anchor toward the tie against which the anchor bears and the hold which it takes upon the rail base is maintained, as against. `vibration or other disturbing influences because the anchor is under strain when it is in ,its operative position on Jthe rail;J Furthermore, the anchor will hold the rail against creeping in the'opposite direction when the anchor itself is held by a ballast or a tie.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 408,799, filed September 8,l 1920.

I claim: y

1. Arail anchor provided at onel end with means for engaging oneside of a rail base and at the other end with means for engaging the other side of said rail base at spaced points and which are adapted to be forced apart to increase the grip of theauchor on the rail, said means for engaging l opposite sides of the rail base being so disposed that the distance between them is n'ormally less than the widths of the rail base when the anchor is free ofthe rail, and a portion of the anchor being resilient whereby' said means'for engaging opposite sides of the rail base may be forced apart-in applying the anchor to the rail.

2. A rail anchor provided at one end with a jaw for engaging one side of a rail base and at the other endwith a vpair of jaws' having a spaced relation to each other for engaging the other side of said rail base, the

va pair of spaced jaws for engaging oppositek sides ofarailbase,v

-anchor is applied to being adapted to. be

4. A rail anchor formed at each end with apair of spaced jaws for engaging oppomally site sides of a, rail base, the pbrtion of the anchor between said pairs of jaws being resilient and the pairs of jaws being arranged So that the distance between them is norless than the width ofthe rail' base whereby the anchor may beystressed in the direction of its length during its applica.-

tion to the rail, said anchor being provided-f with means for forcing apart the jaws of one pair, the upper edge of one pair of r intervening ing bent so other end with vstraightening said bentv portion.

said jaws being beveled to facilitate application of the anchor to the rail.

5. A rail anchor formed at each end with a pair of jaws for engaging opposite sides of a rail base, the portion of the anchor between lsaid pairs of jaws bethat the distance between said pairs of jaws is less than the width of the rail base, and said bent portion being adapt-k ed to be straightened so as to elongate the anchor in applying it to a rail. said anchor being provided with means for forcing apart the jaws of one pair. A

6. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member formed at one end with means for engaging one side of a rail base and at the other end with separate means spaced with relation to each other for engaging` the other side of said rail base, and locking means for maintaining said last engaging means in said spacedrelation; a portion of theV yoke intervening between said rail enga-ging means being resilient and adapted to be elongated transversely of the rail when the yoke is in its applied position.

7,. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member formed at one end with means for engaging one side of a rail base and at the separate means spaced with rivela-tion to each y.

other side of saidrail base,k and locking means for maintaining said last engaging means in said spaced relation; aportion of the yoke intervening between said rail engaging means being bent andthe yoke being adapted to be applied to the rail by 8. A rail anchor comprising a yoke member formedy at one end. with means for engaging one side of a railA base and at the other end with separate means spacedwith relation'to each other fol- @engaging-the other side of said rail base, and' vlocking means for maintaining said last engaging between them is nor? width v'of the rail 'base is elongated duringv lspaced relation to each other for other for engaging' 4the means -in said spaced relation; a portion of" the yoke intervening between said rail engaging means-being. bent and the yoke be? ing adapted-tabel'applied to the rail by straightening said? bent portion, said locklmeans"- 'being .adjustable whereby the grlp'of' said rail. engaging means may be increased.

9. -A rail anchor provided at one end with means for engaging one side of a rail base and at the other with jaws having a spaced `relation to each other for engaging the other side of said rail base, the portion of the anchor intervening between said means andjaws being resilient whereby said means and jaws are adapted to be forced apart when applied to a rail, and a locking tongue positioned between said jaws to maintain themfin spaced relation.- 710.- A rail `an'chor"'provided at one end Awith means for engaging one side of a rail base and at the other with jaws having a engaging the other4 side of said rail base, the portion of Vthe anchor intervening between said means and jaws being resilient whereby said means and jaws are adapted to be forced apart when the anchor is applied to a rail, and a locking tongue positioned between said jaws to maintain them in spaced relation, and adapted to be adjusted to increase the grip of the device on the rail.

l1. A rail Aanchor provided at one end with means for engaging .one side of a rail base and at the other with jaws having a spaced relation Ato each other for engaging 'theother side ofsaid rail base, the portion of the anchor intervening between said means and jaws being bent so as to permit said means and jaws to be forced apart when the Vanchor is applied to a rail and alocking tongue positioned between said jaws to maintain them in spaced relation.

l2. A rail anchor provided at oneend with means for engaging one side of a rail base, and at the other with jaws having a spaced relation with each other for engaging thelother side of the rail base and formed intermediate said means and jaws with a bent p ortion adapted to be straightened when applying the anchor to a rai1, and a locking tongue positioned between said jaws vto maintain them in spaced relation and adapted to be adjusted toforce said jaws wh `applying the anchor to a rail,A and a locking tongue positioned between said jaws to maintain .them in spaced relatlon and adapted to be adjusted to force said jaws further apart, and further straighten said bent portions.

14. A rail anchor provided at one end with means for engaging one side of a rail base and at the other with jaws having a spaced relation with each other for engaging the other side of'the rail base and formed intermediate said means and jaws with a bent portion adapted to be straightened when applying the anchor to a rail, a tie abutting portion disposed at the said jaw end of the anchor, and a locking tongue positioned between said jaws to maintain them in spaced relation and adapted to be adjusted to force said jaws further apart and further straighten said bent portion.

15. A rail anchor comprising a pair of bars adapted to extend under the base of a rail and connected together at one end, one of said bars at that end having means for engaging one side of the rail base, each bar at the other end having a jaw for engaging the other side of the rail base and said bars being formed intermediate their ends with curved portions adapted to be straightened by stressing the anchor in applying it to the rail, and a locking means adapted to be bent to force the free ends of said bars apart, whereby the grip of the anchor on the rail is increased.

16. A rail anchor comprising a pair of bars adapted to extend under the base of a rail and connected together at one end, one of said bars at that end having means for engaging one side of the rail base, each bar at the other end having a jaw for engaging the other side 'of the rail base, and being formed intermediate its ends with a curved portion adapted to be straightened by stressing the anchor in 'applying it to the rail, and a tongue associated with one of said :bars adapted to be bent to force the free ends of said bars apart, whereby said intermediate curved portions are subjected to further stress and the grip of the anchor on the rail is increased. j

17. A rail anchor comprising a pair of bars adapted to extend under the base of a rail and' connected together at one end, one of said bars at that end having means for engaging one side of the rail base, each bar at the other end having a jaw for engaging the other side of the rail base and being formed intermediate its ends with a curved portion adapted to be straightened by stressing the anchor in applying it to the rail, and a tongue associated with one of said bars adapted to be bent to various adjusted positions to force the free ends of said bars apart, whereby said intermediate curved portions are subjected to further stress and the grip of the anchor on the rail is increased.

18. A one-piece rail anchor comprising a metal member bent t0 the Shape Ot a V, means s prising at the apex of said member to engage one side of a rail base and means at the other end of each leg of said V to engage the other side of the rail base, each of-said legs being formed intermediate its free ends and said apex with a curved portion adapted to be stressed in applying the anchor to a rail. and an adjustable locking tongue on one of said legs adapted to bear against the other leg to force said legs apart and subject said intermediate curved portions to further f stress and increase the grip of the anchor on the rail.

19. A rail anchor comprising a pair of bars adapted to extend under the base of a rail and connected together at one end, one oi said bars at that end having a jaw Jfor engaging one side of the rail base, each bar at the other end having means for engaging the other side of the rail base, locking means for maintaining the free ends of said bars in spaced relation, said jaw having a beveled surface adapted to ride over the rail base when the anchor is applied to the rail, said locking means being adjustable whereby the' grip of said jaw and rail engaging means on the rail base may be increased.

20. A resilient one piece rail anchor coma metal member bent in the shape of a V, each leg of which is slightly curved and provided with means to engage opposite sides of the rail base, and an extension on one of said legs adapted to maintain the free ends of said legs in spaced relation, said anchor being applied to the rail base by straightening said legs, said extension being adjustable whereby the grip of said rail engaging means may be increased.

21. A resilient rail anchor comprising bars to extend under the base of a rail from ed e to edge thereof and members intervening tween said bars at opposite ends of the anchor, said anchor provided at its opposite ends with rail engaging means Anormally a shorter distance apart than the width of the rail and the anchor being formed so as to be capable of elongation in application to the rail.

22. A resilient rail anchor comprising bars to extend under the base of a rail from edge to edgethereof, and members intervening between said bars at opposite ends of the anchor, said anchor provided at opposite ends with rail engaging means normally a shorter distance apart than the width of the rail and said bars being curved and adapted to be straightened out to elongate the device in application to the rail.

23. A resilient rail anchor comprising bars to extend under the base of a rail from edge to edge thereof, and members intervening between said bars at opposite ends of the anchor, said anchor provided at opposite ends lwith pairs of rail engaging jaws normally a shorter distance apart than the width of the rail and the anchor being formed so as to be capable of elongation in application to the rail.

24. A resilient rail anchor comprising bars 5 to extend under the base of a rail from edge to edge thereof, and members intervening between said bars at opposite ends of the anchor, said anchor provided at opposite ends with pairs of rail engaging jaws normally a shorter distance apart than the width of the rail and the anchor being formed so as to be capable of elongation in application to the rail and capable of being strained so as to increase the distance between the jaws of one pair of 'aws.

ROLANDIS BLAIR. 

